Taser ‘achieved complete neuromuscular incapacitation,’ runaway suspect ‘fell to the ground’ before latest arrest

Taser ‘achieved complete neuromuscular incapacitation,’ runaway suspect ‘fell to the ground’ before latest arrest

BUSHNELL, Fla. – A felon who spent years in state prison would’ve marked the tenth anniversary of his release – if he chose to do so – back behind bars, where he’s being held without bond on six new criminal charges.

He’s also recovering after two Taser probes hit him in the back and forced him to the ground while he was trying to run away.

Steven Mark Marcotte’s latest trouble started as a passenger in “a light-colored Chevy pickup truck” on Interstate 75 in Florida on Jan. 8.

A sheriff’s deputy noticed the license plate actually “belonged to a 1997 Ford truck registered to the [driver], whose license was not valid and has been suspended since 10/14/2024.” 

The deputy pulled them over and arrested the driver for two traffic violations.

At the same time, a corporal “was on the vehicle’s passenger side and began to approach the front passenger door,” Marcotte’s arrest report said. “He observed the defendant moving inside the vehicle.

“As [the corporal] approached the vehicle, the defendant opened the door and stepped out. [The corporal] asked the defendant what he was doing, to which he replied, ‘Looking for my phone.’

“[The corporal] told the defendant to turn around and [the corporal] attempted to grab the defendant’s left arm in an attempt to detain him.

“The defendant then used his hands to push off of [the corporal’s] upper torso and began to run southbound along the wood line, parallel to the interstate. As the defendant fled, he dropped a black zippered pouch, cigarette pack, and cellular telephone on the ground.

“[The corporal] gave chase after the defendant, drew his agency-issued Taser, and activated the power switch. [The corporal] deployed a total of four probes from the Taser, where two probes made contact with the defendant’s upper and lower back. The Taser was effective and achieved complete neuromuscular incapacitation. The defendant fell to the ground as a result of the Taser deployment, and was detained in restraints behind his back.”

Taser ‘achieved complete neuromuscular incapacitation,’ runaway suspect ‘fell to the ground’ before latest arrest
Steven Mark Marcotte (from left) served a state prison sentence from 2011 to 2015, was arrested for battery twice in 2023, and faced 6 more charges after a traffic stop in 2025. (Fla. Dept. of Corrections | Hernando Co. Sheriff’s Office | Sumter Co. Sheriff’s Office)

At this point, the deputy reported “conducting a vehicle inventory in plain view” and finding “a small white dime-sized Ziploc bag with a white crystalline substance inside, on the front passenger-side seat where the defendant was sitting,” and “an orange bag on top of the dashboard with the same crystalline substance spread on it,” which “field-tested a presumptive positive for methamphetamines.”

Also, there was “the black zippered pouch the defendant was holding earlier” with “a small baggie with a green leafy substance and multiple small dime-size bags with crystalline residue” inside. “The green leafy substance tested a presumptive positive for marijuana,” the deputy wrote.

And, a sergeant “later retrieved the defendant’s jacket that he had slipped out of earlier, and located another baggie with a white crystalline substance inside it.” That substance also reportedly “field-tested a presumptive positive for methamphetamines.”

Plus, authorities said they found “a transparent pipe with blue streaks inside the glove box.”

Also according to the arrest report, “The defendant stated he did have marijuana in the car, but did not want to tell me what it looked like. The defendant then denied the methamphetamines located being his. The defendant did inform he has used methamphetamines in the past. The defendant stated the reason he ran was because he thought he had a warrant out for his arrest.”

Marcotte was taken to the hospital for injuries he sustained while the Taser took him down. Then, he was taken to jail and booked after midnight.

“The defendant was contacted by detention deputies who asked him if he had any narcotics or other items that would be considered contraband. The defendant stated he did not; while the defendant was getting searched, jail staff observed another small dime-size bag with a white crystalline substance inside fall from the defendant’s right sock,” and it reportedly “field-tested a presumptive positive for methamphetamines.”

The arrest report noted Marcotte’s “numerous criminal convictions,” but the list was not complete.

Marcotte began his criminal career in Sumter County. In 2001, he was convicted of three counts of molesting a coin-operated machine with the intent to commit larceny-first offense, driving with a suspended license-first offense, and resisting an officer without violence.

He committed his most serious crimes in Pinellas County in 2010: aggravated battery on law enforcement, child neglect, fleeing or eluding, driving with a suspended license, resisting with violence, and obstructing a crime investigation. He was sentenced to 5 years for each of those charges.

There were a series of arrest reports from that night.

“During the course of the fleeing or attempted eluding, [he] did drive at a high speed, or in a manner which demonstrated a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property,” one said, “after attempting to sell undercover deputies illegal narcotics. The defendant’s vehicle had to be boxed in.”

According to another, “He did punch and strike deputies, and had to be forcefully removed from his vehicle.”

Marcotte was also convicted of two counts of depositing a check with the intent to defraud, and his sentence was 3 years, 9 months, and 27 days for each of those charges. He actually served three-and-a-half years in state prison until his release on Jan. 23, 2015.

Plus, Marcotte was arrested in Hernando County for battery-second or subsequent offense in September 2023, and again the next month for two more counts of battery-second or subsequent offense and violating the terms of his pre-trial release. No information was available on these alleged crimes.

This time, Marcotte, 43, faces four felonies: trafficking methamphetamine of at least 14 grams, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting with violence, and smuggling contraband into a jail facility. He was also charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug equipment. 

He’s being held without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for March 4.


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